2005 BMW 545i Recalls

No recalls on record Updated July 2026

No NHTSA recalls on record for the 2005 BMW 545i. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
31
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
1fires
SEAT BELTS
9
POWER TRAIN
8
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5
STEERING
5
WHEELS
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
Total complaints121

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2005 bmw 545i. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the contact became aware of a ball of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was white…”

ENGINE · reported 2024-03-07

“The wiring inside of the headlights has dried up and fallen off, leaving bare electrical wire. The resulting was both of the headlights became non operational at night. To replace the headlights in the car with all the factory features is about 3200.00 for parts alone. I know of others who have…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2021-11-10

“The wiring inside of the headlights has dried up and fallen off, leaving bare electrical wire. The resulting was both of the headlights became non operational at night. To replace the headlights in the car with all the factory features is about 3200.00 for parts alone. I know of others who have…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2021-11-10

“At approxamitately 1:20pm on july 13, after being parked for a little over an hour I was told that my car was burning. 911 was called immediately and the owner of the establishment went outside and called to the firemen at the station on the other side of the street. Their response was immediate.…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2021-07-13

“Driving approximately 50 mph an accident occurred where there was oil in road. My car lost control and veered into a guard rail on the highway. My car was subsequently totaled and none of my air bags deployed in the crash.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2020-05-18

“Driving approximately 50 mph an accident occurred where there was oil in road. My car lost control and veered into a guard rail on the highway. My car was subsequently totaled and none of my air bags deployed in the crash.”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2020-05-18

“Good evening all, since 2011 I have had issues with the I drive system. Just recently, the system stopped working. After attempting to resolve the issue with bmw of ontario, they declined to cover the vehicle's I drive computer module. Finally, the computer stopped working and I could not see my…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2018-07-12

“Good evening all, every time I fill up the gas in the vehicle, there is a strong smell inside the cab. This began occurring about 4 years ago but has continued thought my time with the vehicle. Currently, I cannot fill the tank at more than . If I do fill up the vehicle to more than I face having…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2018-07-11

Defect investigations

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

Investigation EA08001 Opened 2008-01-04 · closed 2008-12-31

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND…

Investigation PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE…

Investigation PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE…

Investigation PE07045 Opened 2007-09-04 · closed 2008-01-04

BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION

IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 BMW 545i as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.